ABSTRACT Young adults have the highest rates of mental health challenges among any age group, exacerbated by the stress and unhealthy lifestyles that coincide with college attendance. This study examined the effectiveness of a brief, preventative wellness intervention on stress and depression among undergraduate college students, using a mixed-methods, randomized-controlled design. Repeated measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA) revealed significant between-group differences across time for perceived stress (p < .01) and depressive symptoms (p < .01). Focus group themes identified through qualitative analysis further corroborate these results. Ultimately, findings indicate a Solution-Focused Wellness intervention is effective for decreasing stress and depression among undergraduate students.

ABSTRACT Research on young Black men’s mental health has often been shaped by deficit-oriented frameworks that emphasize pathology while obscuring cultural strengths and structural context. This paper advances a strength-based, culturally grounded perspective by synthesizing interdisciplinary literature on the social, cultural, and ecological factors shaping young Black men’s mental health. Rather than positioning young Black men as problems to be managed, the review highlights how cultural assets, such as spirituality, cultural identity, peer solidarity, mentorship, and creative expression, support resilience amid racism, misdiagnosis, and institutional marginalization. Implications for social work research, practice, and policy aimed at advancing mental health equity are discussed.

ABSTRACT Diabetes and mental health are interdependent, with many affected individuals undergoing depression, anxiety, or stress complicating daily management and poorer outcomes, especially among women and economically underprivileged groups. This narrative review examines digital social work interventions telehealth, mHealth apps, online peer support and AI tools that enhance access, empower self-care reduce distress, and foster control. Challenges include digital literacy, privacy concerns and technology access acknowledging the importance of the need for culturally sensitive user-friendly solutions to ensure equitable care. Incorporating these tools into health system promises a holistic person centered approach to diabetes and mental health care.

ABSTRACT This study examines staff perceptions of implementing Shared Decision Making (SDM) in Coordinated Individual Care Planning (CIP) in community mental health services. SDM promotes active service user involvement in planning support and treatment. The intervention was applied across three Swedish regions, each with a test site. Focus group interviews with trained psychiatric staff were analyzed using thematic analysis. Four themes emerged: learning-oriented responses, ongoing development, implementation challenges, and potential solutions. Findings raise questions about service user involvement in CIP and emphasize the importance of reconsidering professional power dynamics to enhance collaborative practice.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to identify depressive symptom trajectories and influencing factors among 809 individuals with disabilities living alone, using data from the Disability and Life Dynamic Panel (DLDP) (2018–2021). A growth mixture model identified two distinct groups: “Increasing” and “Decreasing.” Individuals in the “Increasing” group were more likely to experience financial hardship, poor health, activity limitations, low self-esteem, low levels of social support, and dissatisfaction with medical services and housing. These findings suggest the need for targeted interventions to prevent further deterioration of depressive symptoms among individuals with disabilities living alone.

ABSTRACT This article describes the findings of a research project exploring the importance of friendship for people with an experience of first-episode psychosis. Data collection methods included analysis of 46 surveys completed by service users with the Early Intervention in Psychosis service, two focus groups with Early Intervention staff, and one interview with an independent advocacy organization. The importance of friendship and the barriers and enablers to friendship are discussed using a socio-ecological framework. Implications for practice development include increasing a focus on friendship within assessment and support planning, enabling contexts for friendship, and education and outreach with the wider community.

ABSTRACT This study explored how Russian-speaking immigrant families in Israel perceive recovery-oriented mental health rehabilitation services for their relatives with severe mental illness. Qualitative interviews with 18 families identified six key themes: lack of directive care, tension between personal autonomy and professional responsibility, family exclusion, privatization concerns, language barriers, and inadequate responses to treatment non-adherence. Findings highlight cultural gaps between Israel’s individualistic recovery-oriented services and the collectivistic, directive care expectations of Russian-speaking caregivers. Social workers can play a pivotal role in bridging these gaps by involving families in care planning and advocating for more proactive, accessible, and culturally safe services.

ABSTRACT This article compares the role of social work in vocational rehabilitation for people with mental health problems in the Czech Republic, England, and Finland. Mental health disorders are now a major cause of reduced work capacity, making effective rehabilitation essential. Finland provides an integrated system, England emphasizes activation and employability, and the Czech Republic still struggles with fragmentation and weak professional recognition despite innovative pilots. These differences reflect distinct traditions and institutional structures. The findings highlight the need to strengthen coordination and the professional role of social workers for more inclusive and effective rehabilitation.

ABSTRACT This study examines the association between locus of control (LoC) and quality of life (QoL), focusing on the mediating role of social inclusion. Survey data (n = 69) were collected from two Finnish state forensic psychiatric hospitals and analyzed using mediation analysis. Participants were in long-term involuntary care wih chronic psychotic disorders. Results show that stronger LoC and greater social inclusion are linked to higher QoL. Social inclusion mediated the relationship – partially for happiness and relationship satisfaction, and fully for life satisfaction – underlining its importance in recovery within involuntary psychiatric care.

ABSTRACT Limited research illuminates the prolonged, dynamic nature of caregiver responsibilities while caring for a family member with a serious mental illness (SMI). Using semi-structured interviews with mental health providers (N = 16), we examined challenges that caregivers experienced in various stages of the caregiving journey and the accessibility of supportive resources to meet their needs. Thematic analysis reveals unique challenges experienced in early stages of SMI, in ongoing daily routines of caregiving, and in the longer term, emphasizing the importance of assessing caregiver well-being and providing access to support across the caregiving trajectory to sustain persons with SMI and their family caregivers.